Flanders

The Dutch-speaking northern section of Belgium, highly urbanized Flanders includes the country's star attractions of Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent. The region sits at the meeting point of the Dutch and French cultures, its southern neighbors France and French-speaking Wallonia. A major player in European history for many centuries, Flanders first came to prominence during medieval times, when its thriving wool-trading cities made it one of the wealthiest parts of the continent. Today, most people know this prosperous region for its lively festival scene, medieval towns, and relatively flat countryside intersected by an extensive network of well-posted trails, tailor-made for sightseeing on foot or by bicycle. Plan your trip to Flanders and other Belgium destinations using our handy Belgium vacation trip planner.